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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 226
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices Visit our Web site at www.tacomadailyindex.com
Published Since 1890
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Pierce County Council Expert panel to discuss approves 2013 budget Tacoma's historic live/
Posted online Weds., Nov. 14 Pierce County Council voted Tues., Nov. 13, to adopt a budget for 2013 that reduces general-government spending. The budget, approved on a 7-0 vote, does not include a cost-of-living adjustment for employees. Rather, it spends a portion of that savings to alleviate some cuts in the Sheriff's Department. "Above all, this budget demonstrates our commitment to public safety," said Councilmember Joyce McDonald. "This is a responsible and fiscally sound budget. We must remain mindful of the ongoing uncertainty about the economy, which is why we cannot in good faith include a cost-of-living adjustment for employees or elected officials." The General Fund, which pays for most general government services, would drop from $275.6 million this year to $274.8 million in 2013. Total spending amounts to $894 million, which represents a boost of more than $50 million, mostly due to the major expansion of the Chambers Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Among other things, the budget package would restore four of the vacant positions the County Executive had proposed cutting in the Sheriff's Department, at a cost of $400,000; increase spending on parks maintenance by $180,000; reduce county employment by 42 positions, including 26 in the General Fund. By the end of next year, the county will have cut about 15 percent of its workforce since 2008; reduce surface water management fees by $5 per single family residence to help offset the impact of a property tax recently approved by the Flood Control Zone District; and set aside an additional $826,000 in savings in case the economy worsens. "This budget keeps Pierce County on the path of steady fiscal management that maintains stability and security for our communities," said Councilmember Rick Talbert. The budget now goes to County Executive Pat McCarthy, who has 10 days from its arrival in her office to sign or veto the measure. More information is available online at co.pierce.wa.us/PC/abtus/ourorg/council/2013budgets.htm.
NOTE TO READERS
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, the Tacoma Daily Index will not be published on Thurs., Nov. 22 and Fri., Nov. 23. Publication will resume on Mon., Nov. 26. Have a safe holiday.
work lofts
Posted online Tues., Nov. 13 Tacoma artists, advocates, developers, and anyone interested in continuing a conversation about artist live/work space and the reuse of historic buildings in Tacoma are invited to attend a panel discussion on Weds., Nov. 28 to discuss the issue. Panelists will include Rebecca Morton (ArtSpace); Ben Ferguson (BLRB Architects), Deanne Belinoff (artist/resident at Tashiro Kaplan live/work space), Sharon Winters (Historic Tacoma), Amy McBride (City of Tacoma Arts Administrator), and Traci Kelly (Tacoma Arts Commission and Arts Leadership Lab). The event will be held at the New Frontier Lounge, located at 301 E. 25th St., in Tacoma between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The event is free and RSVP is not required. The discussion will include a question-andanswer session exploring live/work spaces, issues and benefits related to artist live/work spaces, how the spaces can be created sustainably and affordably, ways to use/reuse Tacoma's historic architectural assets, and other related topics. Local historic preservation advocates have been working with city staff to revise land use and building codes to allow live/work spaces as one way to re-use older commercial and industrial structures throughout the city and revitalize areas like the Brewery District and the Dome District. In August, Tacoma City
Council was briefed on a recommendations by the Tacoma Planning Commission to amend the city's land use regulatory code by expanding the flexibility inherent in a "home occupation" type of use to include "live/work" and "work/ live." In April, Historic Tacoma hosted a tour of a century-old firehouse-turned-live/work space in Tacoma’s Whitman neighborhood. Also in April, Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission was briefed on the effort under way to allow artist live/work spaces in some of the city's older warehouse, commercial, and industrial spaces.